Ukraine has launched a counterattack in the southern Russian border region of Kursk, declaring that Russia is “getting what it deserves.”
Andrii Kovalenko, head of the Ukrainian Center for Countering Disinformation, confirmed that Ukrainian forces initiated surprise strikes against Russian positions in multiple locations across Kursk, months after their initial incursion into the area.
In a brief Telegram post on Sunday, Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian Presidential Office, shared the message: “Kursk region, good news, Russia is getting what it deserves.”
Ukraine Maintains Kursk Control Amid Tensions
Ukraine’s military first entered Kursk in August, and despite ongoing Russian efforts, including the deployment of North Korean troops, Ukrainian forces have maintained control over significant parts of the territory.
Ukraine’s top counter-disinformation official Andriy Kovalenko said in a Telegram post: “The Russians in Kursk are experiencing great anxiety because they were attacked from several directions and it came as a surprise to them.”
However, the Russian Ministry of Defense asserted on Monday that its forces had successfully repelled Kyiv’s counteroffensive. It stated that Russian units, backed by air support and artillery, launched a “decisive” counterattack, claiming to have destroyed Ukraine’s main forces near the village of Berdin, located about 9 miles from the border.
The ministry further stated that Russian forces had prevented Ukrainian troops from breaching their defenses.
In November, Ukraine reported clashes between its troops and North Korean soldiers in the Kursk region. The presence of North Korean troops followed a surprise Ukrainian attack in August, which saw forces advance up to 18 miles into Russian territory.
Russia Evacuates 200,000 Amid Conflict
In response, Moscow evacuated nearly 200,000 people from border areas, with President Vladimir Putin condemning Ukraine’s offensive as a “major provocation.” After two weeks of fighting, Ukraine’s top commander claimed control of over 1,200 square kilometers of Russian land, including 93 villages. However, some of this territory has since been retaken by Russia.
Over the weekend, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that security guarantees to end the war would only be effective if they came from the US under Donald Trump.
Speaking in a podcast interview with Lex Fridman, Zelensky praised Trump’s potential influence and suggested the former president could leverage his position to halt Russia’s invasion. Trump, during his campaign, pledged to bring the war to a swift end, though he did not provide specific details.
